Visible card receptacle



Feb. 12, 1935. M. FAKKEMA 1,990,980

VI S IBLE CARD RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR' Feb. '12, 1 935. M. FAKKEMA VISIBLE CARD RECEPTAGLE Filed Nov. 12, 1932 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M w 24 by 7 EVENTOR Patented Feb. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICEv 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a visible card index file and particularly to novel means for mounting the card receptacle in a cabinet or other support wherefrom said receptacle may be withdrawn to a degree desired, and when withdrawn may be tilted to angular position with respect to the support for the greatest possible convenience of the user, particularly in entering data on the card from sitting position.

It isone of the objects of this invention to provide a card index tray adapted to be either slidably mounted in a slidablesupport or a cabinet or otherwise mounted for convenient working position, having novel and inexpensive means for stopping the withdrawal of the tray to the degree desired and for permitting tilting of the tray to a convenient angular position wherein the tray will rest on the outer edge of a support connected with the tray in its uppermost end engaging suitable means for limiting tilting movement.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a pan adapted to be slidably mounted in a cabinet or the like with a card holding tray slidably supported in said pan, and lever means on said pan being adapted to engage a retracted tray to permit tilting of the tray to an angular working position with respect to the pan, the outer end of said pan acting as a fulcrum in supporting said tray in angular position.

A further object of my invention is to provide mounting means whereby one or a plurality of card holding trays may be mounted in normally superposed position to enable any one of said trays to be moved in any one of two directions,

and manually operable lever means permitting such movement and limiting the distance of movement of the tray.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view taken of the tray and pan of my invention and showing the manner of mounting the same in a cabinet, only a fragment of said cabinet being shown.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the pan of my invention in retracted position and showing the manner in which the card holding tray is moved into and held in angular working position with respect to said pan.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational and partially fragmentary view 'of my invention showing a different and modified means for causing tilting move- .5 'ment of the tray. V

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of the modified form shown in Fig.

5 when the tray and supporting frame are in horizontal position. .10

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of a modified form for mounting a plurality of the card trays of Figs. 1 and 2 in normally superposed position. Fig. 6 is a side View of the superposed mounting means shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the'manually operable means for selectively tilting any of a plurality of pivoted trays in either of two directions and for limiting travel thereof in either direction. .20

As shown on the drawings: 7 The reference numeral 10 indicates a sheet metal tray of rectangular shape and substantially of a construction illustrated and described in my co-pending application for patent in the '25 United States Patent Oince, Serial No. 560,379. The rectangular tray 10 has a vertical front plate 11 which extends a short distance above and below the sides and bottom of the tray, as clearly ,shownin Figs. 1 and '2. .1 2 indicates a downwardly extending serrated edge formed along the downwardly extending periphery of each side of the tray, this constituting the means for removably retaining the flexible metal card holding rods in a manner similar to that described in the aforesaid pending application for patent. I desire that it be understood that any other known means for removably mounting cards may be employed, and that this invention and application is direcmdspecifically to the means whereby tilting 4 of the card receptacle to an inclined position is accomplished. 13 illustrates a fragment of a cabinet wall ofthe type of cabinet usually used in card index systems. The reference numeral 14 illustrates a pan or frame of sheet metal which has its longitudinal edges preferably turned upwardly and perpendicularly to the bottom thereof. The reference numeral 15 indicates a U shaped channel which is securely mounted on the inside of the cabinet wall 13 with its flanges pointed into the cabinet, said channel being of a width slightly greater than the depth of the pan 14. In each of my cabinet units a pair of channels 15 are mounted in opposed relation on the interior of the cabinet walls and a plurality of said opposed channels 15 are preferably mounted within a single cabinet to correspond with the number of drawers desired in the particular unit. One of each pair of channels 15 has formed therein a longitudinal recess 16 at the end thereof adjacent the rear of the cabinet, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby forming spaced apart shoulders 17 and 18 for a purpose which will be apparent hereinafter. A horizontally extending stud 1'9 is'sec'ured in the end of the pan14 on the side thereof corresponding to the recess 16 of the channels 15, said stud being adapted to engage the shoulder 1'7 only upon downward and horizontal retraction of the tray and pan when the user bears down on the tray 10. The position of the shoulder 17 with respect to the .front of the cabinet is such that the end of the tray 12 the tray in normal horizontal position, permitting resting of the arm of the user upon the outer end of the tray 10 without tilting of said tray. To withdraw the tray 10 and its supporting pan from completely closed position to tilted working position illustrated in Fig. 2, it is necessary to pull the tray horizontally to extreme out- 1 er position and-permit said tray to tilt to inclined I position by its own weight. When this is done, the

"movement. of the beveled end 23 of lever 21 may be of stop stud 19 does not engage shoulder 1'7.

When it'is desired to withdraw the tray 10 and pan 14 from the stud-engaging position shown in Fig.1 to a position wherein the tray may tilt 'to inclined working position, one working posi- 'tionibeing illustrated in Fig. 2, the outer end of the pan 14 and tray 10 is lifted slightly to disengage the stud 19 from the shoulder 17, and upon horizontal withdrawal thereof the stud 19 will pass the shoulder 17 and slide into engagement with the shoulder 18 as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the tray 10 is withdrawn from its closed position in the cabinet to a predetermined point, a'horizontallyextending stud 20 secured in the side of the tray 10 engages the free and bifurcated end of a lever 21, the other end of which lever is pivoted to the side of the pan 14 by means of a suitable rivet 22 or the like. It will be apparent that when stud 20 engages the free end of said lever '21 the pan 14 will be retracted along with the tray 10 until said pan has caused engagement of the stud 19 with shoulder 18. When this position has been reached the'inner end of the tray 10 will have passed the plane of the front of the cabinet 13, an'd'by its own we'ightythe outer end of the tray 10 will tilt-and maintain the tray in the inclined working position illustrated in. Fig. 2,

the outer end of the pan 14 acting as'a fulcrum and a support.

The limit to which the tray 10 is tilted is controlled by engagement of the beveled end 23 of the lever 21, said beveled end being adapted to engage the bottom of the pan 14 to limit the tilting It will be apparent that the angle varying degrees to correspond and efiect the particulardeg'ree of angle desired of the tray10.

For example, in'the case of a cabinet having twenty superposed card holding trays, the lower degree of angle of such lower trays may be very slight; while in the case of trays higher from the floor or table it is highly desirable that such trays be tilted to a far greater downward incline to permit convenient writing by a user in sitting position upon the cards retained in such upper trays.

I desire to call attention to the fact that the interfitting tray' and pan construction herein described provides a self-supporting card. holding receptacle, the pan forming the supporting means. It. will be apparent that my hereindescribed construction permits complete removal of the tray by merely disengaging the stud 20 from the bifurcation of lever 21 when the tray is in its completely withdrawn position.

I will now describe the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which differs from the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 only in the means connecting the tray and pan and the manner in which it is connected to said tray and pan. As shown in Fig. 3, the reference numeral 41 illustrates a pan corresponding to the pan 14, which has vertically extending side flanges as indicated and which is mounted in suitable channels mounted on the cabinet wall 13, only a fragment of each of which is shown in Fig. 3. The card tray 42 is of a construction substantially similar to'tray 10 heretofore describedthe same having a flat bottom and its sides bent vertically and then horizontally to provide means for removably retaining flexible card holding rods in visible position. The frame 44 is U-shap'ed in cross-section and of a width slightly wider than the tray 42 and has upwardly extending side flanges as indicated, said frame being adapted to slide withinthe pan 41 as clearly'shown in cross section in Fig. 4.

A rivet 45 secured in each of the vertical sides of frame 44 extends inwardly thru a suitable.

aperture in the tray sides to form a loose pivot therefor. This permits pivotal movement of tray '42 and frame 44 from their horizontal interfitting relation shown in'Fig. 4 to tilted working position shown in Fig. 3.

The corresponding ends of the side flanges of the tray-like member 44 are cut away as clearly shown in Fig. 3 to form beveled edges. Theends of the side flanges of the supporting frame 44 .are preferably slightly bifurcated, said bifurcations being adapted to engage inwardly and horizontally extending studs 43 which are secured in side flanges of pan 41. It will be apparent that when the tray 42 is in closed position within the cabinet, said tray and frame 44 will be slidable within the pan, and that when said-tray is pulledhorizontally and outwardly the frame 44 will slide toward the operator and the bifurcated 1 flange of said support 'will engage studs 43 to cause pan 417to be withdrawn to the extent permitted by the means described with reference to the preferred form, namely, the stop stud 19 secured in the inner end of the pan 41. The

,Weight' of the outer end of the tray beyond the outer end of the pan 41 will cause tilting movement of tray 42 from a horizontal position to the inclined position shown in Fig. 3, the frame 44 pivoting about the studs 43 and the beveled edge of the side flanges of the frame 44 engaging the short'horizontally extending flanges 46 of the trays 42. The degree of bevel of the edge of said flanges will determine the degree to which the tray will be inclined.

Iwill now describe the novel form of mounting illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, which is adapted 'for convenient mounting between adjacent bank cages or rooms 'or in ofiices where selective use by two or more workers is desirable, or .where two employees work simultaneously on opposite sides of a desk or partition. As indicated in Figs. 5'=and 6, each of a plurality Of' iIId GX- trays 10, in this instance four in number; is pivotally: mounted in super-posed" position by means: of apair of legs 24 which have suitablehorizont'ally and inward ly projecting cars 25 adaptedto removably receive and support respective trays 110- so that they maybe quickly'removed to-be workedup at a distant place-when desired.- Aseach tray-inthe adjacent innerposition is shorter than the first, the length of the respective metal legs 24? vary as indicated in the drawings so that the trayswill be a short distance apart when in=normal superposed position.

A shaft 26 ismounted horizontally in two pairs of opposed floor brackets27, the lower end of said legs 24 being aperturedand being pivotedabout said shaft for arcuate movement with: respect thereto. It will be apparent: that any one: of the trays may be moved to either side when all are mounted in a partition wall. or other: place Where it is desirable that accesstheretobe from two sides, or that: one tray may: be worked from each side by different operators. By'mounting the brackets 27 tightly againstsaid legs the friction between the same will be sufficient tomaintain a tray in any position towhich it is manually tilted.

Fig. '7 shows a means of, balancing each of a set of trays mounted substantially in the same manner as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In. thisform; a circular plate 29 isrigidly secured to. the bottom of each of the legs 24, each of said plates having an aperture co-axial' with. the apertures of the respective legs 24, these plates. being mounted so that, shaft 26'- passes through said apertures. Each of. a plurality of levers 30, each of which has one end substantially semi-circular, has its curved end pivoted to. the periphery of said plate 29 at a point higher than theaxis of shaft 26, the. free end of. the lever extending horizontally beyond the diametrically. opposite side of said plate.

Levers 31 similarto levers30fhave:theircurved ends similarly pivoted respectively to plates 29 at points nearly diametrically opposite thepivots of levers 30, and above the axis. of the-shaft 26'; The free ends of levers 31 extend in the. direction opposite to the free ends of. levers. 30. A'pairr of relatively short levers 32' are pivoted in. opposed relation to opposed brackets. 33. secured;. for ex.- ample on opposite walls.34, as indicated: in Fig. '7. The free ends of: the levers32 areerespectiveily COIlnBCtEd. to the free apertured ends of. levers 30 and 31 by means of respective coil springs35 as shown. A pair. of. manually actuable levers 36 are pivoted intermediate their ends to brackets 37 secured to the under surface of opposite work tables 38. A connecting. link 39: connects the inner apertured end: of: each. lever 36 and its respective. adjacent lever 32. It will be: apparent that when it is desired to move; any oneof' a plurality of superposed trays: mounted in the manner indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the respective levers 36will be moved downwardly to cause upward movement of a connected lever 32, and horizontal pull of the lever 31 (or 30) to cause the tray and attached legs to swing arcuately on its axial pivot to the degree desired by the operator. When this is done the spring connecting the opposite lever 30 stretches and due to the curvature of said levers 30 and 31 the pivot of the one connected to the stretched spring will be moved below the axis of axle shaft 26 to cause a pull opposite to its normal pull, thereby tending to hold the tray and attached legs in the position: to which it is manually moved.

Whenthe 'trays are in;normal position and the supporting legs are Vertical, the force of the opposed springs: 35 is equal? and the vertical. posi tion of the legsisthereby maintained.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of the invention and construction thereof maybe varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not desire to) limit the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1:. In a card system, a pan; a tray slidable in saidpan; a lever having one end beveled and pivoted to said pan, said beveled end being adapted to engage the bottom of said pan to limit upward movement of said lever with respect to said pan; said lever normally lying in concealed pe sition between said pan and the side of said tray, said lever having its other end bifurcated and normally pointing toward the rear of the pan; a transversely extending stud on the inner end of said tray, said stud being adapted to engage the bifurcated end of. said lever upon withdrawal of said tray to a predetermined position whereby said tray may be tilted to a diagonal working position.

2. Ina card receptacle, a supporting frame having vertically extending sides; a tray slidable in said: frame; a lever connecting said frame and saidtray, said lever having one end beveled along one edge and having said beveled edge pivoted in one of said frame sides and above the bottom of said frame, said lever. having a releasible connection atthe free end thereof, a projection on said tray being adapted to releasablyengage-said lever free end. said tray. being tiltable to an angular working position with respect to said frame to movesaidlever until said beveled end of said'lever engages said frame, said engagement being adapted to hold said tray in inclined position, and said: lever being adapted to. limit the tilting movement. and'hold thesame in angular position.

3. In a card system, a frame having a. vertically extending side portion; acard receptacle slidable in said frame; lever means having one. beveled endpivot'ed' on said'frame side portion at a point above the bottom of said frame and its other'end adapted toreleasably engage said frame upon horizontal and tilting movement of said receptacle tolimit said movement and holdsaid receptacle in an angular position with respect to said frame.

4. In a retractable card receptacle, a. slidable pan, a. tray slidably mounted in said pan. and tiltable with respect thereto when retracted; a

lever" connecting said frame and said tray, saidv lever having one beveled end pivotall'yv secured in said frame. and above the bottom thereof and its other end bifurcated, the withdrawal. of said tray permitting-tilting of said tray at an angle to said rpan, said tilting. movement being limited by en.-

gagement of said. beveled end of said lever and the bottom of said pan, and means on said tray adapted to engage the free end of said lever upon retraction of said tray.

5. A slidable supporting frame comprising a substantially fiat bottom and perpendicularly extending integral sides, a card receptacle slidable in said frame and tiltable with respect thereto, a lever having one end beveled and pivoted to one of said perpendicularly extending sides, said lever having its other end free and adapted to releastherein; a tray. slidable in and supported by said pan; a. stud on the inner end of said pan; a recessed member having a plurality of. houlders secured on the cabinet wall, said pan being selectively tiltable to causesaid stud to engage one of said shouiders tolimit withdrawal of said pan and tray to the de ree desired; a lever pivoted to said pan having one free end, and means on the inner end of said tray adapted. to engage the free end of said lever upon withdrawal of said tray to a predetermined position whereby said tray maybe tiltedto and held in an a gular working position with respect to said pan. 7 V

7. In a card system, supporting means; a metal pan slidable therein; a metal tray slidable in and supported by'said pan; i'eeess-engagingmeans on the inner endof said pan; a recessedinwardly projecting member having a plurality of shoulders secured on the cabinet wall, said pan being selectively tiltable to cause said engaging means to engage one of said shoulders to limit withdrawal of said pan and tray to the degree desired;

a lever pivoted to saidpan, said lever having one end free and normally pointing toward the rear of the pan; a transversely extending stud on the inner end of said tray, said stud being adapted to engage the free end of said lever upon withdrawal of said tray to a predetermined position whereby said tray may be tilted to an angular working position. q I

8. In a card system, a cabinet, a card tray support having a portion insertable and withdrawable with respect to said cabinet, a card tray mounted on said support for relative sliding and tilting movement with respect thereto, and means for limiting said tilting movement, said limiting means comprising a link pivoted for vertical arouate movement to said tray support said pivoted link end being'beveled and extending oppositely to the free link end, said free link endhaving'a' detachable engagement with respect to said tray.

9. In a card system, a cabinet, a cardtray support having a portion insertable and withdrawable with respect to said cabinet, a card tray mounted on said support for relative sliding and tilting movement with respect thereto, means for acting between the tray support limiting said tilting movement comprising a. lever havingone end free and its other end pivoted to said support, said free end being adapted to engage said card tray upon retraction thereof, said'pivoted end being movable to a limited degree, and selectable means for variably limiting the withdrawal movement of said card tray'support comprising a shoulder on said cabinet and a projection on said tray: support, said projection'being selectively engageable with said shoulder. a

. 10. In a card system, a cabinet, a card tray support having a portion insertable and withdrawablei with respect to said cabinet, a card tray mounted on'said support for relativesliding and tilting movement with respectthereto, means for limiting tending sides and having beveled ends and adapted to liesubstantially parallel to the pan sides, said frame being slidable within said pan; stop studs insaid pan, said frame member sides having recesses formed on their ends adapted to re: ceive, said stop, studs when the tray and frame are withdrawn; a card tray having vertically extending'side edges adapted to lie within said frame and said pan; a hingeconnection between said frame and said tray permitting pivotal movement between saidframe and said tray, the beveled ends of said frame member being adapted, when tilted, to engage said tray sides to limit the degree of inclination of said tray.

12.111 a card receptacle, supporting means; a pan slidably mounted in said supporting means and having vertical sides; a card receptacle slidable within said pan; a frame member between said card receptacle and said pan'and slidable in said pan, saidframe member having vertically extending sides parallel to and interior of said receptacle sides and having a pivotal connection between the adjacentsides of said frame and receptacle sides, the forward ends of said frame sides having a recess and the other ends of said frame sides having flat beveled ends; and a projection in said pan adapted to engage said recess uponwithdrawal of the receptacle to limit such withdrawal, said receptacle and frame member being tiltable to the inclined position and adapted to be supported in such inclined position by said frame, said beveled endsbeing adapted to engage said receptacle. 13. In a card system, an upper and a lower tray, said upper tray being slidable .in saidlower tray and said lower tray having vertical sides and being slidablymounted; a support in which said lower tray is slidable; a frame having vertically extending sides parallel to said lower tray sides and hingedly secured to the end of said upper tray 

